Spring Break 06: Chicago
Posted on April 16, 2006 7 Comments
Drag queens and porn producers and pineapples, oh my!
I’ve had the craziest two Chicago weeks ever. I had two carry-over vacation days to use by this week or lose, so I managed to take two three-day weekends in a row. I feel like I’ve been on Spring Break – I’ve been eating out, going to bars, meeting up with friends and visiting law schools with Brian. But let me start with the Gay Idol competition I attended on Thursday…
For five dollars, I couldn’t possibly have been more entertained. You see, I was a little disappointed that I missed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Chicago this weekend (not in the budget), so I got my music fix much cheaper at a Windy City Gay Idol competition. The show was judged by, among others, a porn producer and a drag queen who kept calling everyone “my little pineapples,” much to the bemusement of the mostly straight crowd. At one point during a rousing karaoke rendition of “Hava Nigila” on Christianity’s Holy Thursday and Judaism’s Passover, I looked around at the cheering, happy crowd of mixed genders, creeds, races and sexual preferences, breathed it all in and thanked my lucky stars that I live in Chicago.
In addition to the heaping dose of tolernace I experienced on my Spring Break, I also was reminded of just how small (and thrifty) Chicago can be. While sipping a martini at the chic House of Blues Hotel lounge last week (we were waiting for the train), I spotted this beautiful paisly-print handbag. I turned to ask the fashionista where the amazing accessory came from, only to realize that its owner was a friend from college! While we caught up, I learned the purse came from Lori’s on Armitage, and that it was originally quite pricey (+$100) but she kept checking week after week and eventually got the purse for $35. Chicago is apparently filled with stylish and savvy budgeting babes!
Not everything about my Spring Break was great, while I had many “I love this city” moments, but I also had a few less than euphoric moments. For instance, while hanging out at Hidden Shamrock last week, a friend spilled a quarter of a Guinness pint all over my new white Zara shirt. And not in a discreet place (all over my left breast, in fact). Luckily my teacher friend Karen happens to be wonderful with stains. So while I performed a full sprint to loo to assess the damage and cry, she broke into action to save the shirt. As she power-cleaned in the ladies’ bathroom sink, I stood around, helpless, cursing myself for not properly prepping my underarms that evening. If I had, I could have improvised and worn my undershirt as a tank. Lost in my own world, considering my options, I barely noticed her dilligent scrubbing with bathroom hand soap. But thanks to her stainfighting abilities, I had a clean dry shirt in no time and was able to enjoy the rest of the night. Thank goodness for resourceful friends.
Now that my unofficial Spring Break is over, I head back to office on Monday relaxed and refreshed. I’ve got to reassess my monthly entertainment/food budget a bit and make sure I can fit everything in. I think I may be staying home the next two weekends to make up for the fun I’ve had. That’s fine by me. I travel to DC on Tuesday and kick off another gruelling work period over the next few months.
It’s great to know that when I have the free time, Chicago is ready and willing to play.
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7 Responses to “Spring Break 06: Chicago”
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April 17th, 2006 @ 8:44 am
Hullo,
I am having a lot of fun reading your blog. Thanks for that.
And steer clear of Guiness..:)
April 17th, 2006 @ 12:32 pm
Stains…as a klutz and veteran spiller of all things that can stain, I’ve learned to never travel outside my door without Shout Wipes. Wrapped in individual foil packets, they take up virtually no room in your purse or luggage, but they are lifesavers when it comes to spilling–or having spilt on you!–tea, coffee, or even, alas, Guiness.
April 18th, 2006 @ 3:07 pm
I really enjoy reading your blog!
I am curious if you have any input on consolidating credit card debt. I don’t have a lot, but I’d like to bring two payments together… and I don’t know if I should go to my bank to try to get a personal loan, or if I should talk to one of those non-profit credit companies… thanks!
April 18th, 2006 @ 8:30 pm
Oh,this post was funny,irreverent and entertaining. Thanks Nicole.
As a somewhat observant Catholic, I was laughing about how you spent Holy Thursday. (As for me, I spent Thurs. Fri and Sat. quietly)
I don’t like stains very much either. Usually, I’ll tuck a napkin around my neck or wear an apron.
Thank goodness you have friends that know the art of stainbusting!
One product that I love is Oxyclean.
April 18th, 2006 @ 8:36 pm
my little pineapples! ha ha ha! too cute
April 18th, 2006 @ 8:41 pm
re. Liz’s question on credit consolidation. By my second year of grad school, I had approx. $17k in credit card debt (amassed over a 5 year period). Feeling that I had treaded water for so long without making any progress on paying it off, I contacted CCS of Central New York (a reputable non-profit group). They put me on a payment plan and I’m less than a year from being credit card debt free. Not sure how it will affect my ability to eventually obtain a good mortgage rate etc., but my credit score is pretty decent in the low 700′s (I expect it to continue to climb over the next year). But it does show on your credit history that you’ve negotiated special terms with your company.
If your debt is manageable, it might be worthwhile to consider a low-interest loan, consolidating to a lower interest card (and not adding to the balances). If you feel it is beyond you, it might be worthwhile to make an appointment with a reputable group in your area. They will ask you to bring the most recent statements from your credit card companies and walk through their policies and repayment plan. You do not have to commit if you determine it is not for you. I thought about it for a few weeks before deciding it was the best decision for me at that time. At a different time in my life (i.e. post-grad school where I am making more money) I *might* have made a different choice. Hope this helps.
April 20th, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
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